Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

Shopping for the best smartphone deals can be a complicated and frustrating endeavour. With different networks offering similar-looking contracts at wildly different rates, it's easy to feel like you are missing out on the best offers.

But there are ways to pick out a bargain and key things to look for when considering a mobile phone contract.

We have picked some of the best mobile phone deals for the top of the range. With the launch of the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy Note 9, plus the Google Pixel 3 and OnePlus 6T this year, these are some of the best phones you can buy now at the most attractive rates.

Best iPhone deals

iPhone XS and XS Max

Apple’s latest iPhones mark a modest improvement on last year’s iPhone X, offering a slightly better camera, a dual SIM feature, and a slightly faster processor. You’ve also got all the stuff that made the iPhone X so great like the lightning fast A11 Bionic chip, a gorgeous super retina display and, for the first time on an iPhone, Face ID. Check out our thoughts on the device here.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS MaxCredit:
Noah Berger/AFP

iPhone X

When launching the iPhone XS this year, Apple decided to immediately discontinue the iPhone X, so you may not be able to find these around for much longer. Still, considering the XS is a very modest update, it might be worth seeking one of these out if you can find it cheaply. Check out our first thoughts on the device here.

Apple's new iPhone X

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are still on sale and offer a cheaper Apple experience compared to the iPhone XS devices. However, they’re still fairly pricey as phones go. The iPhone 8 features wireless charging, an incredibly fast processor and Apple's iOS 11 software.

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have basically been superseded now, but they still offer a great mobile experience with a solid camera and good software. While the big bezels on the 'forehead' and 'chin' of the screen look pretty dated nowadays as most phones have abandoned them entirely, that might not be too much of a problem if you're not bothered about such things. If you can find this phone at a bargain, it's still worth having, even if the iPhone 8 and iPhone XS are just that much better.

iPhone 7 PlusCredit:
AP

Best Android deals

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ best deals

Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and larger S9+ smartphones are still the best Android devices on the market. The 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch smartphones have high-end camera technology (much better than Apple’s), with a dual aperture camera, plus an alternative to Apple's Animoji in AR Emoji, and super-slow motion cameras. You can read the Telegraph's full review of the five star Samsung Galaxy S9 here.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 is basically a big Galaxy S9 with a stylus. Still, that stylus proves very useful as we noted (pardon the pun) in our review. With powerful dual cameras, a fingerprint scanner, and a brilliant battery life, this is a great phone if you want something a bit bigger.

However, they’re also by far Samsung’s most expensive phone to dating, starting at £889 and going all the way up to £1,099.

Credit:
Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S8

If you want to buy a top quality Samsung phone and you don’t want to pay a fortune, arguably the best course of action is to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S8. It’s basically exactly the same as the S9 in all the ways that count but considering it is ‘last gen’ it is also available significantly cheaper. This phone comes with an infinity display and a super fast processor and one of the best smartphone cameras available.

Samsung Galaxy S8Credit:
AP

Google Pixel 3

Google's excellent Android-powered flagship, the Pixel 3, arguably has the camera on a mobile phone and comes with unlimited cloud storage so you can snap away to your heart’s content. Google are really showing off what Android is supposed to be all about with this device, which is beautiful, clutter-free, and powered by the brilliant smart AI from Google Assistant. It's also got a cool new wireless charging pod which turns the phone into a smartspeaker just like the Google Home Hub.

Google Pixel 2

Despite the launch of its successor, the Pixel 2 still has one of the best mobile phone cameras. Plus, it should come significantly cheaper now that Pixel 3 is on the market. What's more, Google have promised that many of the major updates to its software from the Pixel 3 will eventually make their way to the Pixel 2. Basically, you're getting 85pc of the benefits of buying a Pixel 3 at a much cheaper price. This one is a real bargain. It can also link up with other products like the Google Home or the virtual reality Daydream View.

Google's new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XLCredit:
Google

OnePlus 6

This is potentially your last chance to get the OnePlus 6, a brilliant little device which offers much of the same functionality of an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, at half the price. The lightning fast phone offers a great camera, large screen, and the best facial unlocking we’ve ever seen on a mobile phone. Unfortunately, it is shortly set to be discontinued when the OnePlus 6T launches on 17 October.

Still, you might be able to find the last few devices of this generation on a bargain after the upgraded model launches.

Credit:
OnePlus

HTC U12 Life

Weirdly it’s really difficult to find HTC U12 phones on the major networks at the moment but if you looking for something to shove your SIM only contract into, you could definitely do worse than the U12 Life, which offers a smart dual camera set up, and an ergonomic design which is meant to work in one hand.

As HTC isn’t one of the biggest brands out there you should be able to find some decent deals.

Credit:
HTC

HTC U11

HTC's "squeezable" smartphone is available on several networks in the UK. The HTC U11 combines its stunning glass back design with a brilliant screen and a 12MP camera. It has a 5.5-inch screen and all day battery life.

HTC U11Credit:
HTC

Sony Xperia XZ3

Sony’s latest Xperia phone is a solid little piece of technology, with a handsome design and a very powerful camera. It offers basically all the functionality of any other top of the range Android phone for a fraction of the price, and arguably looks better while doing it. Sony has also cribbed Samsung’s edge-to-edge screen, which you can touch the sides of to gain further utility.

While the Xperia XZ3 is one of the newest devices on the market, it launched at a lower price point than the Apple or Samsung equivalents, so you might be able to find a decent deal.

Credit:
Sony

Sony Xperia XZ2

Like so many other phones released in 2018, the latest Xperia XZ3 is really just a slight rehash of the truly innovative XZ2. You’re going to get much of the same stuff on the XZ2 as you’ll find on the XZ3 with a slightly slower processor and less powerful cameras (though, to be honest, you probably won’t notice the difference.

The best part is that the XZ2 is an absolute steal these days. If you’re looking for a bargain, you could do worse than this one.

Credit:
Lluis Gene/AFP

Huawei P20 Pro

The Huawei P20 Pro has emerged as one of the most sought-after phones of the year after launching back in March. The camera is stunningly good (despite appearing to whiten-up faces) and the all-day battery life has also impressed reviewers. But the most beguiling thing about this phone is the price, which has aimed to be quite low, hoping to attract the Apple and Samsung fans who can’t justify the immense costs of their latest flagships.

Credit:
Huawei

How to pick a good mobile phone deal

Trying to find the very best smartphone contracts is overwhelming. Many providers only offer deals for a limited time and there can be huge price disparities between different networks.

Right now, some of the best value deals you can find are on Three, although O2 and Vodafone both have deals on larger data packages. Some of the best sim only deals can be found with iD, Plusnet, Three and Virgin.

Another challenge is working out just how much a contract will cost in total, considering the upfront fee and monthly costs. It can be helpful to add these two prices together when comparing rates.

It is also worth shopping around and comparing contracts or asking your provider to try and match a better deal you have found online.

Finally, you should consider how much data you plan to use, as this can often add to the end cost of the phone. Many providers may want you to take out 10GB or 20GB of data and pay more cash per month, but will you actually use it?

Where can I find the best mobile phone contracts?

While you might prefer to buy a phone through one of the major providers, many of the best deals are actually available through third party retailers. Websites such as Mobiles.co.uk, which is part of Dixons Carphone, and retailers such as Carphone Warehouse are safe to use and offer exclusive prices that you won't find on the main networks.

Several of the main carrier providers don't market all handsets on their websites, in these cases discount retailers are the best place to find them.

For a more flexible option, GiffGaff allows you to pay for your phone by buying packages of data and minutes each month. It lets customers switch or downgrade their data plan more easily than with other providers.

Negotiate a deal

In many cases it's worth calling up your current carrier to see if you can negotiate a better deal before upgrading. Almost all don't want to lose valued customers or will price match better offers. On the other hand, it is rarely worth attempting to negotiate in store, as sellers will often not have the power to offer you an exclusive deal.

Alternatively, buying a phone outright and then opting for a sim only deal is almost always a better deal than a smartphone contract.

What should you look for in a mobile phone contract?

Minutes: Most mobile phone deals come with unlimited calls and texts, but make sure you check as some cheaper deals have limited minutes.

Data: If your only data usage is rarely checking emails you may need as little as 1GB of data. Most people will require 2GB or more, particularly if you are a regular user of Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram. Significantly more will be required for those who want to stream videos or music.

Roaming charges: Following changes to roaming charges, you are now billed in the same in any EU country as you would in the UK. Some providers offer global roaming packages, which provide better international rates across continents.

Benefits: Mobile networks often include added perks in their packages, such as discount cinema tickets or priority for music events. O2 Priority offers tickets, entertainment and food discounts, EE has six months of Apple Music, while with some Vodafone deals you can get discounted access to apps such as Spotify.

Cashback deals: Some third party providers use cashback offers to cut monthly phone bills. This requires the buyer to claim back some of their money in several installments across the life of the contract to secure a lower price.

This month's best SIM only deals:

Instead of picking up a smartphone contract on its own, you could consider buying the handset outright and turning to a cheap sim card deal instead. These can provide you with more minutes and data, while adding the flexibility to choose your own own.

Right now there are some big New Year offers on sim only deals for users happy to buy their phone outright. However we have taken recent offers from EE off of this chart, as we don't feel they offer the same value for money.